Homeless man accused of stabbing, killing man dining at steakhouse with daughter on his lap

VENTURA, Calif. -- Anthony Mele was dining at a steakhouse in Southern California with his daughter on his lap when a homeless man allegedly walked up to him Wednesday and stabbed him in the neck.

Jamal Jackson, 49, was arrested shortly after the attack in Ventura and has been charged with premeditated first -degree murder, the Ventura County District Attorney's Office said.

Mele died the next day, but his daughter was not injured. The two men did not know each other, the Ventura Police Department said.

'Yelling' reports

Hours before the attack, a bystander called 911 to report Jackson for "yelling" and other disruptive behavior on a beachfrontpromenade in Ventura, police said. Authorities said they determined he was not a threat and canceled the call for service.

No officers were available to immediately check on him, and police began monitoring him from the command center using security cameras, police said Saturday.

"At the time of the call, patrol resources in the area were assigned to other calls for service," police said.

When he walked away from the camera's view, more than 20 minutes later, authorities determined he was not a threat and canceled the call for service, police said in a statement.

About three hours later, Jackson stabbed Mele in the neck while he was dining at Aloha Steakhouse -- a beachside restaurant across the promenade where Jackson had been spotted, police said.

Mele underwent surgery, but was removed from life support Thursday, police said.

Bystanders chase suspect

Jackson was arrested after a group of bystanders chased him to the beach. He was initially charged with attempted murder and child endangerment, Ventura police said.

A motive is unclear, officials said.

If convicted, he faces up to 55 years in prison. Information on his attorney was not immediately available.